The incidence of hip fractures in The Netherlands

The number of hip fractures in women 65 yr of age and over increased from 3416 in 1972 to 8075 in 1987. In men of the same age group the number of hip fractures increased from 1167 in 1972 to 2285 in 1987. This increase can only in part be explained by the increase in the proportion of aged people in the Dutch population. The age-adjusted incidence of hip fractures in The Netherlands rose linearly from 479/100,000 to 669/100,000 per year in women aged 65 yr and over during the period 1972-1987. In men of the same age group the age-adjusted incidence of hip fractures increased linearly from 198/100,000 to 308/100,000 per year over the period studied. The total number of hip fractures in the year 2010 has been estimated at 22,726. The mean duration of a hospital stay because of a hip fracture was 30 days in 1987. The annual need for hospital beds in 1987 for the treatment of hip fractures was calculated at 851. For the year 2010, the annual need for hospital beds, based on a 30-day hospital stay, has been estimated at 1866. Should the duration of a hospital admission due to a hip fracture be reduced to 20 days, then the annual need for hospital beds in 2010 would be 1244.